Letter from John E. Ayer, M. V., to the Crime and Law Enforcement Commission Citing the Automobile as Increasing Crime and Liquor Trafficking

and 10 the 2d are almost wholly responsible Without the present liquor laws, the conditions would certainly be vastly worse than at present. The great mass of the people, the farmers, mechanics and the labor ranks are far nore sober and law abiding than they were before the Prohibition Amendment; and as those classeswil furnish prac- tically all of the parentage of the future, their interest is the only one entitled to consideration. The checking of the crime wave is not merely a moral, or good citizenship issue. It is quite as much a matter of self preserva- tion. The ominous increase of the deadly forces of electricity and gasoline in all industries and locomotion, and the well known fact that any drinking of alcohol affects the sight, caution and judgment in the brain,has made it imperative that all liquor drinking must be suppressed;no matter how much it may conflict with self indulgence or' 'personal liberty'. It cannot be dodged by any such absurd farce as a certain portion of the Press is now exhibiting with its mass of letters. There is no line of practi- cable compromise. A beer and wine compromise would demoralize the whole country and negative all enforcemente It cannot be shirked by loading the responsibility on public officials. They can go but little further than juries will back them with unanimous votes. There must be a strong general backing of the efforts of the President, - the first President who has ever shown a positive purpose and ability to deal with the worst evils of society-by the daily volunteer propaganda work of all decent citizens. John E. AYER, Mo V. 420 Haight Bldge Seattle, Wnd may 23-24